Former Housing Authority Executive Charged in $16.2 Million Loan Fraud Scheme

Robert Cappelletti, the former executive director of the Meriden Housing Authority (MHA), has been indicted on nine counts of fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from alleged criminal activities committed while he led the MHA, which served Meriden and Groton, Connecticut.

Prosecutors allege that in 2022, Cappelletti obtained a $16.2 million loan purportedly on behalf of the Maynard Road Corp., a nonprofit affiliated with the MHA, without authorization from either the MHA or the MRC board of directors. He is accused of issuing a promissory note for the loan on behalf of the MRC and guaranteeing it on behalf of the MHA without proper approval.

According to the indictment, Cappelletti then allegedly funneled a portion of these funds to himself through various accounts and shell companies. The funds were reportedly used for personal expenses, including mortgage payments on his residence, brokerage account investments, and credit card bills related to personal travel.

To obscure the unauthorized loan, Cappelletti is accused of transferring approximately $1 million from the Groton Housing Authority and its subsidiary LLCs to repay the initial loan. He allegedly misrepresented these transfers to the Groton Housing Authority, claiming they were for a development project in Groton and would be reimbursed, supporting this claim with forged invoices.

Cappelletti served as executive director of the MHA from 2009 to 2025 and also sat on the board of the Maynard Road Corp. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail.

The indictment followed a joint investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If convicted, Cappelletti could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years for each count of illegal monetary transactions.

In addition to the federal charges, Cappelletti is also a defendant in a separate civil lawsuit filed by the Groton Housing Authority. This suit accuses him and property manager Jamie Lee of fraud, conspiracy, and violating Connecticut's Unfair Trade Act. The civil complaint alleges unauthorized property purchases made under the guise of the Groton Housing Authority and accuses Lee of obstructing access to her computer files.